Car-axle



(N0 M0de1.)-

O. DECKER & A. TROMBLY.

OAR AXLE.

NO. 320,855. Patented June 23, 1885.-

$6 WQM UNITED STATES PATENT @EETQE.

CORNELIUS DECKER AND ALEXANDER TROMBLY, OF PULLMAN, ILLINOIS.

CAR-AXLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,855, dated June 23, 1885.

Application filed February 24, 1885.

(No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, OoRNnmUs DEoxER and ALEXANDER TROMBLY, bot-h citizens of the United States, and both residents of Pullman, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in OarWVheel Axles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in car-wheel axles heretofore constructed of a single solid cylinder having the wheels at each end sleeved thereon, so that one may revolve independently of the other, and especially when said wheels are being drawn around a curve.

In the construction referred to, the axle and wheel wear upon each other and are liable to bind when heated, because of the unavoidable difficulty of effectually lubricating them, and, besides, both are liable to strain, in addition to having their temper drawn and temperature varied to anextent materially decreasing their durability.

The objects of this invention are to avoid these objections as nearly as possible, to decrease friction, and provide for the effectual lubrication of all frictional parts of a car-wheel axle, and dispense with any except tractional friction on the wheel. These objects are attained by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 illustrates a front elevation of a car-wheel axle embodying our invention; Fig. 2, a central longitudinal section of the same; Fig. 3, a transverse section on the line X X of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a similar'view on the line Y Y, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.

'A refers to an axle, which, by a transverse division centrally of its length, is composed of two parts, a b, respectively, having sh rank or keyed rigidly thereon wheels B O, of the usual construction and material, the ends of the axle projecting beyond the wheels to form the ordinary bearings working in box suspended from the ear-truck. The opposing ends of the divided axle are concaved to respectively form pockets 0 d fora ball, D, which not onlyserves as an anti-friction device between the axle ends, but to maintain them from contact with each other and permit either one of the axles to be revolved independent of the other. Surrounding and sleeved on the axle is a cylindrical box composed of the two parts E F, which may be united by bolts 6, passiugthrough them or through lugs formed thereon; but whether or not said bolts are used it is proposed to employ collars G G, united together by bolts passing through flanges ff at their meeting ends, which collars are preferably concave or inclined upon their inner faces to tighten upon a corresponding external shoulder, g, cen trally located with reference to the length of the box. Divide-bands H H may also be used at the extremities of the two-part box to increase the rigidity of the box and relieve the bolts 6 from strain, and as a whole strengthen the box; but these bands may be omitted, if desired. It is obvious, however, that some means must be provided to prevent an endwise movement of the axle and hold its opposing ends in contact with the ball, and to this end the two parts of the axle are respectively provided with annular shoulders or ribs I l, which are embraced by corresponding depressions in the box. Between these depressions and the opposing ends of the axle are annular oil-chambers J J, formed in the inner walls of the box, so as to completely surround the axle, oil being supplied to these chambers through radial perforations or passages h in the box, said passages preferably opening on three or more sides of the box, so one of them will always beuppermost and in a position convenient for filling purposes. An endwise movement of the axle may also be prevented by providing the respective ends thereof with shoulders K K, fitting in corresponding depressions in the box, and oilpassages 13, similar to those leading to the oil-chamberJ J, be formed through the collar G G, and the box for introducing a lubricant to the balland-socket bearing and'the shoulders K K. These several oil-passages should be closed by some suitable removable cap or stopper to prevent the escape of the oil from the bean ings, and, if desired, the oil-chambers may be filled with waste or other suitable material commonly used as a vehicle for the lubricant. The shoulders of the axle work sufficiently loose in their hearings to permit of their effective lubrication by the contents of the oilchambers; and in this connection it should be Ioo observed that owingto the peculiar construction'and relative arrangement of the oil-receptacles and the several bearings of the axle they are not only fully lubricated, but the lubricant cannot escape in any considerable quantities from these chambers and bearings.

In operation the box successfully maintains the two-part axle in alignment and from an endwise movement, and yet permits said two parts to freely rotate therein, either or independently of each other, so that in turning a curve one wheel may rotate at a greater or less velocity than the other, and thereby 'presirable not only for the resulting advantages, but because it is inexpensive, ready of access, and may be conveniently and quickly put together 'or taken apart.

Having described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The two-part car axle and the box sleeved thereon, in combination with a ball-and-socket bearing between the opposing ends of said two-partaxle, substantially as described.

2. The two-part car-axle, in combination with a two-part box surrounding and joining both members of the axle, and a two-part ring sleeved on said box, substantially as described.

3. A transversely divided axle and carwheel rigid thereon, in combination with a ball-and-socket joint between the opposing ends of the axle, and a box sleeved. on said axle, substantially as described.

CORNELIUS DECKER. ALEXANDER TROMBLY. Witnesses:

J. C. TRAINOR, FRANK J. TRAINOR. 

